My Thoughts

  I Love Thanksgiving.  I love to spend the day cooking and being with my family and friends.  Thanksgiving.  Turkey, stuffing, greenbean casserole - apple pie, pumpkin pie (not my favorite)...and don't forget the cranberry sauce!  I love that there is one day of the year that most Americans sit back and think about what they are thankful for this year.  It's a day to be with the people you love the most.  Stuff your belly, have some laughs and just enjoy the company of your family and friends.    Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the 'Holiday Season'.....or at least it USED to.  It seems every year the holiday decorations, food, gift items, etc are out earlier and earlier and earlier....Before Halloween even!  Two of our local radio stations are already playing Christmas Music!!!  Really??  It's November 17th.....and I know that at least a week ago I heard Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on my car radio.  PLEASE let me get to Thanksgiving before pushing Christmas

When I think of Veteran's Day, I think of brave men and women who thought more about their country than they did of themselves.  They picked a 'job' to serve the American public.  I think of images of war heroes from WW1 and WW2, Korea, Vietnam....and Iraq and Afganistan. I am a veteran.  I served in the Marine Corps for 10 years.  I loved my time in the Marine Corps, and I wouldn't change my choice to enlist.  I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for the opportunities afforded to me by the Marine Corps.  I don't feel brave, or heroic.  I didn't go to war or get deployed.  I did my job as requested, and as I signed up for.  I am Not a hero - I save that designation for those like my husband and my ex husband who DID go to war. Thank you Kevin and Chris for the men that you are and the honorable way you served.  Thank you to all the veteran's out there.  Your commitment to the country was selfless.  Take today and make it yours.  Honor your

Lists.  Places we want to go, things we'd like to do, things we HAVE to do.  I am an occassional list maker.  I actually wish I was more consistent in my list making.  I find that I am much more productive and organized when I have things written in front of me....I can see progress as well as procrastination.  As I was thinking about lists, I realized, I probably need to make a list of the lists I need to make or keep......

So I was listening to NPR this morning, and they were talking about the poverty level of our country.  They stated that number of American families dipping into the poverty level is growing.  Then they asked, Are you better off than you were 4 years ago. As I pondered that questions, I realized that this question covers way more than the financial aspect of our lives.  Are we better off in our job situations.  Is our family unit as strong or stronger than 4 years ago.  Are we as happy or happier than we were 4 years ago.  A lot happens in 4 years.  To base if we are better off than 4 years ago soley on finances seems kind of shallow....  Life is so much more than debt and savings. I feel that I am better off than I was in most ways.  I have had a few down moments, but with each down, I learned how to get back up.  In the last four years I bought a new house, had a baby,  lost a job, found a job, ended a contract on that job, found an AMAZING job, lost my mother, added my father to

Just How much can I control when there's too much to do? Too much to say, and who to say it to? The world isn't perfect, not even our little piece. Let's make it thru today, let's have a little peace!

The buzz of the country this week, and quite possible outside our borders, is the Casey Anthony trial.  A range of emotions have come over me about the whole situation.  Anger, Sadness, Dispair, Frustration....it goes on. There are so many questions that will probably never be answered.  I know that the jury actually got it right - and I, like many, are not happy about that.  The prosecution rushed to get this case tried and did NOT get the evidence needed to confict this "mother".  Let's say, go with me on this, that Caylee did drown in the pool.  Why would a parent lie about it and cover it up???  WHY?????  I think about my own kids.  FIRST thing I would do if I found my child unresponsive is call 911...not think of how to cover it up.  Make it look like a murder????  Lie to investigators and say she was taken by a babysitter??  Ridiculous.  Lies, Lies, Lies.  That angers me beyond belief.  I have to believe that one day, she will get her just punishment.  She has t

Sounds like a simple question, right?  Have you ever driven by a road construction crew and wondered why so many people are standing around doing virtually Nothing?  Driving out of my subdivision this morning, I look to my right and see 4 men 'working' on the big construction project going on right now. Now, I could see if all 4 men had a shovel, pick ax, or other digging tool in their hands - my answer would be "Yes"...but this is what I saw:      1 man in the hole with a shovel      1 man in the hole watching the man in the hole with the shovel      1 man right up out of the hole watching the man in the hole, watching the man in the hole with the shovel  and 1 man on the other side of the street watching the man outside of the hole, watching the man in the hole watching the man in the hole with the shovel. I'm sure there was a valid explanation why it was really taking 4 men to dig that hole, rather than just the one that was ACTUALLY digging the hole. 

So, driving to work this morning I saw Our Flag.  The beautiful Red, White and Blue.  I'm filled with pride when I see it waving in the sky; I'm filled with distain when I see one tattered!  What to do, what to do....  If you see a flag that should NOT be flying because it is tattered - what do you do?  I feel that I should call the company flying the flag and 'inform' them that they are disgracing our flag by flying it in that condition.  But is that within my rights or responsibility?  There lies my conflict......so I do nothing and keep feeling bad when I see an unkept flag. Why fly a flag if it's tattered and torn.  Respect the flag.  If you can't / won't replace when needed, then don't fly one at all, or at least take it down when it's no longer presentable.

Opinions.  You've heard the saying - Everyone has one, and they all Stink!  Why is that?  Many people believe if you don't have the same opinion as them, you are wrong.  No, you aren't wrong, you just think differently. With all the hot topics out there that can have varying opinions, no one can be right about everything.  Everyone has a right to their own opinion on any topic or news story.  I read a lot of news on the Internet.  I also read a lot of comments ON the news on the Internet.....  Many of the comments bother me because they are so negative pointed to the person the article is about.  Regardless of the topic, people can find negativity in virtually EVERYTHING.  It's ridiculous.  Why is it that people can't just be happy for people of fame and move on? Katie Couric - doesn't she have a right to decided to change jobs?  Why are there so many people that just want to trash her anonymously on the Internet??  Is it jealousy?  Do they PERSONALLY know

Have you ever driven by a house and just wanted to stop and knock on the front door and ask to look inside?  There have been a few for me.  There is one house right outside my subdivision.  It reminds me of the house in Hansel & Gretel.  I told my husband that if it ever went up for sale, I would be going to the open house.  Not that I want to buy it, I am just intrigued as to what it looks like inside. I imagine the inside being small, kind of minimal-like.  Nothing fancy or extravagant.  I picture a small country style kitchen with just enough cabinet space for the essentials.  Maybe a small jelly cabinet in the corner and a butcherblock cutting table.  To finish off, there would be an old style refrigerator.  I picture the upstairs as an attic with lots of opportunity!  I would love to have an attic that is 'livable' and not just full of insulation and random forgotten boxes.  Maybe have it be like a small library, or den.  A quiet get away. The back yard, from wha